NorCot alliance towns continue sharing facilities

PIGCAWAYAN, North Cotabato --- Seven towns of this province continually strengthen their alliance and intensify their "bayanihan" spirit through implementation of infrastructures in underdeveloped areas.

Mayor Eliso Garcesa, Jr. said Kabalikat PALMA+PB --- which stands for the initial letters of the towns of Pigcawayan, Aleosan, Libungan, Midsayap, and Alamada plus Pikit and Banisilan --- has pulled its resources and equipment to complement the needs of each member-municipality.

“It is already a practice that heavy equipment and construction facilities of alliance-member towns would lend each other’s equipment should the need arises,” Mayor Garcesa said.

He said these include dump trucks, road roller, road grader, backhoe, bulldozer, self-loading, and pay loader.

“We usually help each other for the road rehabilitation and maintenance,” he said.

The Kabalikat PALMA+PB has been moving from one municipality of the district to another for years now doing repair works on roads, rehabilitation of bridges, road concreting, and construction of farm-to-market roads, among others. (Gilmhar A. Lao with Anne Acosta)

Tawi-Tawi flick wins Moro Film Fest

BEST MORO FLICK. Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Governor Mujiv Hataman (extreme left) and actor Robin Padilla (extreme right) flank the people behind the featured film 'Manis Ma Pikilan' that emerged as the grand winner in the Moro Film Festival held last  December 6 at Shariff Kabunsuan Complex in Cotabato City. (PHOTO BY BPI-ARMM / MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

COTABATO CITY --- A short feature film from Tawi-tawi bested 10 other finalists and won as best short film for the 2018 Moro Film Festival at the Sharif Kabunsuan Complex here Thursday (December 6) night.

"Manis Ma Pikilan," which in Samal dialect means “Beauty in My Mind,” romped with P300,000 as the grand prize winner. The film captures the personal struggles of Pahad, a boy from a small coastal community in Tawi-tawi.

“This film would like to tell the people, especially those people outside the ARMM (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao), that Mindanao is not just about war and that people have their own personal struggles in life,” said Bhas Abdulsamad, director of the film.

“White Flag,” a short film that depicts the story of Omaimah, a young lady who faced great challenges at an evacuation center in Marawi during the siege, bagged the Grand Jury Prize, walking away with a P150,000 cash prize.

“White Flag” director Najib Alyhar Zacaria was emotional during the awards night.

“I could not explain how I feel but I know I am happy. This is for my Princess,” he said.

Princess was Zacaria's daughter who expired due to a disease while staying inside an evacuation center during the Marawi City siege last year.

Other short film finalists were “Identity,” “Kyuga,” “Battle of Tampakan,” “Inged,” “The Last Kill,” “Juramentado,” “Khalil at Manuelito,” and “Sarimanok.”

Extra winners with their corresponding prizes are Audience Choice Award – Inged (Php100,000); Best Director – Najib Alyhar Zacaria for White Flag (Php50,000); Best Screenplay – White Flag (Php30,000); Best Cinematography – Manis Ma Pikilan (Php30,000); Best Editing – Manis Ma Pikilan (P30,000); Best Actor – Abraham Nupuran for Manis Ma Pikilan (Php15,000); and Special Citation for Ensemble Acting – The Last Kill (Php15,000).


The films were critiqued and judged by renowned filmmakers led by award-winning Moro filmmaker and author Gutierrez "Teng" Mangansakan II with Bagane Fiola and Xeph Suarez as members.

“A good story is something that comes from within, and these two movies, ‘Manis Ma Pikilan’ and ‘White Flag,’ were really able to surface this type of films,” Mangansakan said.

ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman, who graced the event together with wife Anak Mindanao Executive Director Sitti Djalia Turabin Hataman and actor Robin Padilla, congratulated the winners as he encouraged them to make more Moro films in the future.

“This is for all the Bangsamoro people,” Hataman said.

The competition, the first-ever for the ARMM, forms part of the region’s year-long celebration of Pakaradjaan 2018. Public screenings of the top-10 films have been scheduled at the Al Nor Cinema 2 in this city last December 7-9. (NOEL PUNZALAN / PNA – COTABATO / MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

Editorial

Gift-giving is LOVE

Many youths would prefer “material items” as gifts for Christmas as shown in a survey by the Social Weather Station. This preference was nearly 50 percent of the respondents’ choice compared to a measly two percent for “family togetherness” as a gift.

        But to qualify qualitatively, material items decay but not familial togetherness or affirming family bond which goes generation by generation. A gadget like cellphones can be bought anytime but not one cannot just throw family union outdoors. From the family we get belongingness, affection, protection, and survival. Of course, we need material items but these could only be temporal unlike social bonding which is more lasting. 

        People give material gifts to make us happy of our wants or needs but the non-material aspect , which is family togetherness, is far more reaching in social relationship. Better in togetherness we extend material gifts out of love. Of course, the youths or the kids would want material items, including cash, as gifts during Christmas Day but these are given out of love. If it is out of love and it will further strengthen social bonding, then the material and non-material aspects are fine blending… but not as an obsession to acquire the material things to selfishly satisfy oneself.

        There are wonders in giving material items as gifts. For one, it must be usable. If one can afford,, a computer set or laptop unit with internet connection is functional, especially for studies and research and as a communication tool, and that could also be used by the whole family. But of course, there must be a fund sourcing for maintenance and operation of such device. What we mean is a gift that is long lasting and very useful and functional. Of course, this depends on affordability.

        There are choices in giving material items as gifts so long as these are meant to be useful. Surely, kids love toys but these items can be bought with a learning process in it. These items would make the receivers think that they are loved and are given attention by the givers. Loving is non-material and giving can come in the form of material aspect and could be reciprocated by non-material gesture such as respect and appreciation borne out of gift-giving.

        So folks, this Christmas season learn how to blend the material and non-material nature of the occasion. Giving material items is a token of love and the receiver is reminded that they are being loved and not just for the sake of tradition of buying gifts.

        Remember, the greatest gift of all is always LOVE. This is especially true among families of close-knit relationship. Enjoy the season folks!